Michaela Whitbourn

The head of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Megan Latham, has taken the unusual step of cautioning against any changes to the watchdog's powers to hold public hearings amid criticism of the reputational damage caused by inquiries.

In her second foray into the public spotlight in as many weeks, Commissioner Latham hit back at critics who have suggested the ICAC's powers are "too wide" and that inquiries "ought to be held in private" to mitigate damage to the reputation of witnesses.

"One of the principal objects of the ICAC is to investigate, expose and prevent corruption," Commissioner Latham wrote in an editorial in the ICAC's newsletter, Corruption Matters.

"Corruption is inherently secretive and covert. It thrives on a conspiracy of silence. The exposure and prevention of corruption cannot, therefore, occur in private. It must be subjected to the full glare of the public gaze or it will continue to thrive."

The watchdog will resume public hearings in its high-profile inquiry into Liberal Party fundraising on August 4, when former police minister Mike Gallacher, former energy minister Chris Hartcher and others are expected to give evidence.

Commissioner Latham, a former Supreme Court judge who took over as head of the ICAC in January, said that it "must be acknowledged that reputational damage can arise out of a public inquiry, notwithstanding that no findings of corrupt conduct are ultimately made against an individual called before that public inquiry".

But she said that "as regrettable as that may be, any compromise of the ICAC’s extensive powers of investigation and enquiry would undermine the public trust in the ICAC’s capacity to fearlessly expose corruption, no matter how powerful or influential an individual".

"The greater the public profile and sphere of influence of an individual, the greater the potential for reputational damage. It would be an abuse of the ICAC’s powers to differentiate between witnesses on the basis of their susceptibility to reputational harm," Commissioner Latham said.

Her comments come as state politicians consider changes to the ICAC's powers. Former attorney-general Greg Smith announced a parliamentary inquiry last week into whether the ICAC's "processes" can be improved to ensure prosecutions flow from its findings.The committee conducting the inquiry can also examine "any other related matters".

The announcement of the inquiry prompted Commissioner Latham to issue a statement to counter the "incorrect public perception" that prosecutions are unlikely to result from the commission's findings.

Anti-corruption bodies in other states hold at least some hearings in private. Following Mr O'Farrell's shock resignation, the South Australian government reiterated its commitment to holding hearings in private at its own Independent Commission Against Corruption, set up late last year.

As a rule, the Victorian equivalent, the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission, also holds its hearings in private.